Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is endemic in Singapore. With TB being a rather contagious disease, I can imagine it to be quite scary for people to hear that their loved ones have been in close contact with a person with the disease.
Especially if it was your child.
Pre-schoolers Screened For TB After Teacher Contracted The Disease
Selected children and staff at PCF Sparkletots Preschool at Bukit Batok Blk 293 were screened for TB after a person at the pre-school was diagnosed with the infectious disease.
The results of the TB screenings are still pending and those in close contact with the infected person are being identified.
The infected patient was placed on medical leave immediately after the diagnosis was made and is currently being treated, according to a Health Ministry spokesman.
No Risk Of Further Exposure
Unlike some contagious diseases, TB is not spread through contact or surfaces touched by the patient. However, it can spread through close, prolonged contact with the infected person.
In addition, the latent form of TB infection is also not infectious.
There is no risk of further exposure to the school since the infected patient has already been placed on medical leave.
Thus, the Tuberculosis Control Unit (TBCU) has advised that closure of the centre is not necessary.
Parents Unhappy With Delayed Notification
The Health Ministry and the TBCU were notified on 26 November of the TB case. However, parents were only notified two weeks later (12 December) via a physical letter from the pre-school.
A parent of a pre-schooler at the pre-school questioned why parents were given such a delayed notice.
According to the parent, there was a parent-teacher conference a week before they were told but they were not informed of the infection then.
“The question is why were we kept in the dark; why were there so many days of waiting time?” said the parent.
Responding to the queries, a spokesman for PCF Sparkletots said the pre-school was only informed of the case on 10 December by the TBCU.
Hence, this is allegedly the reason why parents received a delayed notification.
Similar TB Case A Few Years Ago
In August 2016, at a different pre-school in Bukit Batok, 80 pre-schoolers and five staff were screened after a pre-school teacher was diagnosed with TB.
Back then, when the parents were informed, they had a “calm” reaction.
Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, chest pain when breathing or coughing, tiredness, fever, night sweats and loss of appetite or weight.
Do see a doctor and seek treatment if you suspect that you have TB.
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